CloudZero

Research Engineer, GCP Optimization

CloudZero

full-time

Posted on:

Origin:  • 🇺🇸 United States

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Job Level

Mid-LevelSenior

Tech Stack

BigQueryCloudDistributed SystemsETLGoogle Cloud PlatformPythonSQLTerraform

About the role

  • Investigate real-world GCP environments to identify inefficient configurations, underutilized resources, and design patterns with poor cost-to-value ratios
  • Develop and validate cost optimization strategies across core GCP services, including Compute Engine, Cloud Storage, Cloud SQL, Cloud Functions, GKE, and BigQuery
  • Stay current with GCP pricing changes, committed use discounts, sustained use discounts, and evolving service models to inform optimization logic
  • Build optimization logic and models in Python and SQL, integrating seamlessly with CloudZero's data pipeline
  • Create scalable, reusable scripts for simulation, modeling, and recommendation generation
  • Leverage GCP APIs and metadata to detect actionable patterns and optimization signals
  • Support integration of ML-based techniques into optimization workflows (workload classification, anomaly detection, predictive scaling)
  • Build and maintain tooling that enables the optimization team to create, test, curate, and deploy cloud optimizations at scale
  • Prototype and validate optimization recommendations before customer deployment
  • Contribute to CloudZero's optimization engine architecture and performance
  • Partner with Data Science, Engineering, and Product teams to transform research into customer-facing optimization intelligence
  • Share GCP expertise and optimization best practices across engineering and customer-facing teams through documentation, training, and education
  • Translate technical research into actionable product features and internal tooling

Requirements

  • 3+ years of hands-on experience with GCP services and cost optimization
  • Strong analytical skills with proven experience modeling savings strategies in cloud environments
  • Expert knowledge of GCP pricing models, especially Compute Engine, Cloud Storage, Cloud SQL, Cloud Functions, and autoscaling strategies
  • Proficiency in Python (preferred) or similar high-level programming languages for scripting and automation
  • Strong SQL skills for data exploration and transformation
  • Experience with GCP APIs and cloud infrastructure metadata
  • Hands-on software development experience with version control (Git) and testing practices
  • Familiarity with DevOps practices, Infrastructure-as-Code (Terraform, Deployment Manager), and CI/CD tools
  • Experience with data pipeline tools and ETL processes
  • Understanding of distributed systems and cloud architecture patterns
  • Excellent documentation and communication skills, with ability to translate complex technical concepts for diverse audiences
  • Collaborative mindset with experience working across Product, Engineering, and customer-facing teams
  • Self-directed with ability to manage multiple optimization projects simultaneously
  • Passion for cost optimization and helping customers achieve measurable cloud savings
  • GCP Professional Cloud Architect or similar certifications
  • Experience with FinOps practices and cloud cost management platforms
  • Background in data science or machine learning applications in cloud optimization
  • Previous experience in a SaaS or cloud optimization company